Moore County, NC Animal Ordinances: Cat Rules (2026)
Key Facts
- Governing section
- Moore County Code § 4-11
- Enforcing agency
- Moore County Animal Operations
- Caregiver duties
- neuter, vaccinate, left-ear notch, manage health
- Removal notice
- caregiver notified first, reasonable time given
- Max civil penalty
- $1,000.00 (Sec. 4-10)
Summary
In unincorporated Moore County, feral cat colony caregivers must follow Moore County Code Section 4-11's trap-neuter-vaccinate-return standard: neuter every adult cat, vaccinate the colony against rabies, notch the left ear of vaccinated cats, and manage the colony's ongoing health. Moore County Animal Operations must notify a registered caregiver and allow a reasonable period to resolve any complaint before removing a colony cat.
(a)Caregivers of feral cat colonies shall implement proper management to include as follows:(1)Neuter adult cats; and(2)Vaccinate cats against rabies; and(3)Notch left ear of all vaccinated cats; and(4)Manage the health of the colony.(b)Animal operations will notify a feral cat caregiver prior to removal of any feral cat(s) and caregiver will be given a reasonable period of time to resolve any complaint.
Full Breakdown
Chapter 4 of the Moore County Code defines a feral cat as one 'unsocialized to humans' with 'extreme fear of and resistance to contact with humans,' and a feral cat caregiver as anyone who traps, neuters, vaccinates, ear-tips, feeds, waters or has temporary custody of one under a trap-neuter-return program (Sec. 4-1). Under Sec. 4-11(a), a colony's caregiver must neuter adult cats, vaccinate them against rabies, notch the left ear of every vaccinated cat, and manage the colony's health. Sec. 4-11(b) requires Moore County Animal Operations to notify the caregiver before removing any colony cat and to give the caregiver a reasonable period to resolve the complaint that triggered the removal.
Sec. 4-11(c) adds that before euthanizing a trapped feral cat with a notched ear, Animal Operations must first try to notify the caregiver, unless the cat qualifies for immediate destruction as badly wounded or diseased under Sec. 4-66. The chapter's general cat rules still apply to colony animals: Sec. 4-32 makes it unlawful to fail to keep a cat four months or older currently vaccinated against rabies, and Sec. 4-33(b) excuses cats from wearing a metal rabies tag but requires the caregiver or owner to keep the rabies vaccination certificate as proof.
A 'keeper' otherwise responsible for a stray animal under Sec. 4-68 specifically does not include a feral cat caregiver (Sec. 4-1), so registered caregivers are not treated as owners who must surrender or claim the cat.
Violations & Fines
Failing to abate a nuisance created by an animal, including an unmanaged colony, is a misdemeanor under Sec. 4-10(a), punishable per G.S. 14-4, with each day counted as a separate offense. Moore County may also pursue the civil penalty track in Sec. 4-10(c): a notice giving 72 hours to pay, an added $25.00 for missing that deadline, and another $25.00 for every five-workday period the fine goes unpaid, capped at $1,000.00.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need a permit to run a feral cat colony in Moore County?
Can Animal Operations remove my colony's cats without warning?
What does the notched left ear mean if my cat is trapped?
Are colony cats still required to have rabies vaccination proof?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Moore County
Compare Moore County to another location·View the North Carolina animal ordinances overview
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